lab growling?

[alablover]

Hello!
I'm hoping someone can help me out.
I have a 2 year old male lab who is recently starting to concern me. I have two children and lately he has been growling at them. If he is laying down with a bone (or toy) and the kids go anywhere near him, he growls at them. (I mean, they just walk past him!). He is also crate trained. Always has been (we've had him since he was 8 weeks old). We've tried to break him of the crate, but he actually loves it. he goes in and lays down on his own. At night, he sleeps in there. If we dont put him in, he barks and flips out :) So I know he likes it there. If I (or my husband) close the door when he goes in, hes fine. But lately, if one of my kids do it, he growls like crazy!

What gives? I dont like the idea of my dog growling at my kids. Is this aggression? I was thinking of letting my kids give him a treat when they close the door, but I dont know if that would just cover up the problem and not fix it. I mean, if he's aggressive, I dont want him attacking my kids at another time.
help?

[Sheltiemama]

When he growls at the kids where is he? In his crate, in the livingroom on the couch?

[alablover]

he growls at them while they are closing the door to his crate (while hes in it)..but he doesnt growl at us when we are doing that.
and he growls while hes eating a bone, or chewing on a toy on the living room floor. (when they walk past, or go over to pet him. the petting him part I can understand - while he's chewing, but sometimes they are just walking!)

[Sheltiemama]

IMO he's telling them that he has placed the kids lower in the pack than he is. How old are your kids? If possible get them involved in his daily care. Have you considered letting the kids throw a treat into the crate before they close the door of the crate? He sees that crate as his personal and private space and may resent their intrusion. If he growls at them when he's chewing on a bone, I would have the child come over to the dog with you, have you take the bone away from the dog and give it to the child, wait a minute and then have the child give the bone back to the dog. Just be sure you are there and ready to step in if the dog decides to take it back himself. The idea is to teach the dog that he is to accept things from the children as well as from you and your husband. Don't let the kids take anything away from him when you aren't there to observe for a while tho. Labs usually are very laid back about family members so he may just need a little reminder.

[alablover]

my kids are 7 and 9. my 9 year old is VERY involved with his care. she feeds him and takes him out (probably more than I do).
that is a good idea...taking the bone from him and giving it to the kids. I have thought about having them give him a treat in the crate. I guess I just worry that hes going to be aggressive to the kids anyway, and that's just keeping him quiet. Im afraid that we'll think he's not aggressive and then he attacks the kids at any given time.

[Sheltiemama]

Just make sure that the dog understands that you will not tollerate any unacceptable behavior from him regarding the kids. You can verbaly scold him as you're taking his bone away and if he does get out of sorts, just give him some time alone in his crate. Not as a punishment but just as a cooling off. Labs are great family dogs, he just has an inflated opinion of himself.....

[alablover]

Labs are great family dogs, he just has an inflated opinion of himself.....

HAHAHA....typical man!!! :)
thanks so much for your help! I feel much better! we'll work on it all together!

[Sheltiemama]

That's great, and please keep me posted on how he's doing.